Mental Health Antipsychotics Vs Diabetics Routine

[LookingForSelf]

Whats your response to a doctor that says a schizophrenic who needs antipsychotics is like a diabetic who needs diabetes medication? I cant find a good response to give back at them since I know its not true.

 

[Kittycat5]

Why do you feel it is not true? Both are chronic conditions that respond to medication, both can worsen if therapy isn't initiated, both have drugs that unfortunately have some serious adverse events making them difficult for patients to be compliant, and both in some cases can be treated without pharmacotherapy.

 

[LookingForSelf]

Why do you feel it is not true? Both are chronic conditions that respond to medication, both can worsen if therapy isn't initiated, both have drugs that unfortunately have some serious adverse events making them difficult for patients to be compliant, and both in some cases can be treated without pharmacotherapy.

I feel like diabetes is a biological issue whereas schizophrenia is not. Diabetes needs medication in order to sustain the bodys biological needs for life. Rather schizophrenia is problems with emotional repression that do not need life long medications to sustain a healthy life.

 

[Kittycat5]

Unless you are type I diabetic, you can control your diabetes with really strenuous lifestyle modification. But most people cannot commit to this so they turn to medication.

The same can be said for schizophrenia. Non drug therapy can work but most cannot do this either. And while it is a mental/psychological disorder, there is little doubt it arises from ones biology.

 

[bingey]

I'd say that doctor needs a punch in the face

anti-pyschotics are a horrible thing to do to another human being, also I still don't see how they are better than high dose benzos for the short term.

 

[LookingForSelf]

The same can be said for schizophrenia. Non drug therapy can work but most cannot do this either

Most doctors are against a schizophrenic doing only non drug therapy. Its shunned upon and there is very little information on how to do it so most dont even know its possible. Ask any doc and theyll tell you theres no chance of living without antipsychotic medications. Theyll give you stats like 94% are rehospitalized and therefore cant make it through an entire lifetime. Can the same be said for a diabetic?

 

[LookingForSelf]

And while it is a mental/psychological disorder, there is little doubt it arises from ones biology.

Actually theres a lot of professionals who state it is not a biological issue and research that suggests it is flawed or incomplete.

 

[silverwheel]

Actually theres a lot of professionals who state it is not a biological issue and research that suggests it is flawed or incomplete.

Such as?

It seems like you've been given a diagnosis and you're not accepting the reality of it. Taking medication to treat schizophrenia is normal. You can't just "think it away" or treat it with lots of weed.

 

[LookingForSelf]

Such as?

It seems like you've been given a diagnosis and you're not accepting the reality of it. Taking medication to treat schizophrenia is normal. You can't just "think it away" or treat it with lots of weed.

I cant find anything in google right now but its discussed in the book 'Learning from the voices in my head' by Longden.

I accept I experienced psychosis numerous times but I believe its caused by trauma early in life more than its some biological disease. I dont believe in medicating but obviously you have a strong stance on medication, are you on antipsychotics or just an observer? You can recover without meds but it doesnt mean I deny whats happened to me.

And where did I say you can treat schizophrenia with lots of weed?

 

[Kittycat5]

I see what you mean now about it not being biological. You mean that psychological trauma rather than an inborn brain anomaly may be the root cause. I wasnt thinking that way. My line of thought was no matter why someone develops schizophrenia, there are changes in the brain which would fall under the heading of biological.

 

[LookingForSelf]

I see what you mean now about it not being biological. You mean that psychological trauma rather than an inborn brain anomaly may be the root cause. I wasnt thinking that way. My line of thought was no matter why someone develops schizophrenia, there are changes in the brain which would fall under the heading of biological.

And this is the current key issue with those who are not supporters of the current medical model as it deals with psychosis and schizophrenia. You wont find a ton of info because there are certain groups and benefactors that like to deny it and slip it under the rug. Big pharma, current psychiatric systems, etc

 

[Ozle]

Can you give some context on when and why that was said? What are you prescribed?

 

[LookingForSelf]

Can you give some context on when and why that was said? What are you prescribed?

This happened a few months back after being on Invega for about 8 years. I wanted to taper off because I dont believe in medication being the only route to recovery but staying on them nonetheless to appease a parent who says its either take them or get kicked out.

Was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2004. Currently self tapering off Invega 9 mg after two psychiatrists not budging on their stance.

 

[Ozle]

Invega is a very strong sedative (and according to some reports I've read, not particularly effective as an antipsychotic, although I guess that really depends on your definition of psychosis) and seems an unusual choice for a first-line treatment. What led to you being put on it?

 

[LookingForSelf]

Invega is a very strong sedative (and according to some reports I've read, not particularly effective as an antipsychotic, although I guess that really depends on your definition of psychosis) and seems an unusual choice for a first-line treatment. What led to you being put on it?

Hospitalized for experiencing psychosis after doing some drugs. Delusional in hospital. Readmitted twice in 2 years. I know i was on something different the first year but parent wanted something "better for me" and I sheepishly complied.

 

[Ozle]

Were your readmissions also due to drugs? Drug-induced psychosis generally isn't permanent, although it trigger chronic psychotic conditions in people already predisposed to them. What exactly were your symptoms, and do you still have any? What reasons are your doctors giving you for not wanting to lower the dose? Even if you're symptom-free, telling a doctor "I want to stop this" about a medication you've been taking for years generally isn't going to be met with a positive reaction; a better approach might be to ask if you could try a lower maintenance dose, since you've not had any symptoms for a long time.

 

[LookingForSelf]

Were your readmissions also due to drugs? Drug-induced psychosis generally isn't permanent, although it trigger chronic psychotic conditions in people already predisposed to them. What exactly were your symptoms, and do you still have any? What reasons are your doctors giving you for not wanting to lower the dose? Even if you're symptom-free, telling a doctor "I want to stop this" about a medication you've been taking for years generally isn't going to be met with a positive reaction; a better approach might be to ask if you could try a lower maintenance dose, since you've not had any symptoms for a long time.

Hey thanks for replying. Yea my readmissions did not involve drugs or atleast the best I can remember. I started hallucinating and had delusional thoughts brought on by what I think may have been withdrawal effects from quiting the drugs they put me on. Or they were just brought on by themselves and having rough times just as anyone else Id assume. I was on 3 mg Invega for 7 years and recently went to 9. I didnt just go in there saying I dont want this drug anymore. I told them i would like to slowly taper off under there supervision and continue to visit them to see how im progressing.

Why should i be on this "maintenance dose" forever as your suggesting? I dont believe I need medicaition to recover. Im not the same naive guy as I was 10 years ago and think ive been on the drugs long enough. I dont like the way the drug has changed me and now that i dont have to worry about being kicked out I can actually get off of them and maybe get back to my old self, but with lessons learned. If it wasnt for publications and people that support my view, im not sure id be saying this but many people live with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia without medication today.

Actually let me say one more thing. Im even willing to be readmitted to a hospital. Yes the painful process of being admitted, possibly redrugged, losing a job, losing personal dignity are all events Im willing to undergo. I just strongly dont believe in long term use of medications.

Yes they can help in the short term to stabalize a patient and help them get needed rest- but thats where it should end. I dont believe in being prodded to take a pill that may or may not prevent relapse compared to those who arent taking medications. Theres no way to say the drugs are preventing relapse or the person. But i dont want to be the one thats commanded by some higher authority who thinks there working in my best interest to choose which way I go.

Instead of always siding that the anti-psychotic medications are whats keeping people out of hospitals, which they are not from what current studies suggest, maybe we should side with the human being who chooses to live without them.

 

[eye2797]

I know that I am diabetic and heart issue. I take meds for both conditions. I know I need them to keep myself in check. same goes for my meds I take for my bipolar, I do take them at a lower dose certain times of the year. If I am not stable than they raise them up. I have learned that my mental issues , I will have to take something most likely the rest of my life. I do get that the less we can be on is much better for us, but I also want to be stable.
I have finally accepted that I need the medications to deal with my health issues.

 

[AlphaMethylPhenyl]

I think its somewhat of a leap. We don't know as much about what schizoprenia is as we do about diabetes. Schizophrenia may additionally not be a major impediment in some societies. But in most cultures, it can cause a lot of severe pain nonetheless. I think it's productive to think of it in an analogous way to diabetes because it saves a lot of pain.

 

[SixBuckets]

Actually theres a lot of professionals who state it is not a biological issue and research that suggests it is flawed or incomplete.

Schizophrenia is considered a biopsychosocial disorder, so you're both right. It has biological aspects (there's a genetic component and most people with schizophrenia syndrome umbrella disorders have distinct physical changes to the brain) but the development of the disorder is also heavily influenced by experiences, environment, and emotional resilience.